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Donald Trump Defiant after Al-Shabab Propaganda Video

Diane A. Wade
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Donald Trump Defiant after Al-Shabab Propaganda Video

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump has defended his call for a ban on Muslims entering the United States after it was used in a propaganda video by Somali militant group al-Shabab.

Donald Trump said people had praised his courage in truthfully highlighting a “problem” that others preferred to ignore.

During an appearance on CBS News, Donald Trump said: “Now people are getting involved.”

The tycoon’s call, after San Bernardino shooting in which 14 people died, has been widely condemned.

Democratic presidential candidate and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that Donald Trump’s rhetoric was turning him into the “best recruiter” for ISIS.Donald Trump al Shabab video

A propaganda video by Al-Shabab, al-Qaeda’s Somali affiliate, used a clip of Donald Trump repeating his call at a campaign rally last month.

His appearance on CBS News’ Face the Nation, to be shown on January 3, Donald Trump was questioned over how his comments had been framed by al-Shabab as an incentive for Muslims to join holy war.

“Look, there’s a problem,” Donald Trump said.

“I bring it up. Other people have called and say you have guts to bring it up because frankly it’s true and nobody wants to get involved.

“People that are on different persuasions than me right now are saying, you know, maybe Trump isn’t wrong. We want to examine it.”

The video, released by al-Shabab’s media wing, also urges African-Americans to convert to Islam and take part in holy war. It says racism, police brutality and anti-Muslim sentiment are rife in the US.

In recent years, several Somali-Americans from Minnesota have gone to fight for al-Shabab in Somalia.

Al-Shabab, which seeks to overthrow Somalia’s Western-backed government and impose a strict version of Sharia, has carried out attacks in Kenya and Ethiopia.

Last month’s campaign statement from Donald Trump called for a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims” entering the United States until the authorities could “figure out what is going on”.

Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr Execution: Iran Says Saudi Arabia Will Face Divine Revenge

Roy Siemens
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Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr Execution: Iran Says Saudi Arabia Will Face Divine Revenge

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned that Saudi Arabia will face “divine revenge” for its execution of Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr as a “martyr” who acted peacefully.

Protesters stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran on January 2, setting fire to the building before being driven back by police.

Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr was one of 47 people executed for terrorism offences.

Ayatollah Khamenei said Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr had been executed for his opposition to Saudi Arabia’s Sunni rulers.Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemns Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr execution

The ayatollah tweeted: “This oppressed scholar had neither invited people to armed movement, nor was involved in covert plots.”

“The only act of #SheikhNimr was outspoken criticism,” he added, saying the “unfairly-spilled blood of oppressed martyr #SheikhNimr will affect rapidly & Divine revenge will seize Saudi politicians”.

Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr had been a figurehead in the anti-government protests that erupted in the wake of the Arab Spring up to his arrest in 2012.

Iran – Saudi Arabia’s main regional rival – has led condemnation among Shia communities over the execution.

The foreign ministry in Tehran said the Sunni kingdom would pay a high price for its action, and it summoned the Saudi charge d’affaires in Tehran in protest.

Some of the protesters at the Saudi embassy in Tehran hurled petrol bombs and rocks. Forty people have been arrested, officials said.

There have also been demonstrations in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, where Shia Muslims complain of marginalization, as well as in Iraq, Bahrain and several other countries.

For its part, Saudi Arabia complained to the Iranian envoy in Riyadh about what it called “blatant interference” in its internal affairs.

Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr’s execution has worsened long-running tensions between the two Middle Eastern nations, which support opposite sides in the Syrian and Yemen conflicts.

The US and UN have both called for restraint.

In a statement after the executions, State Department spokesman John Kirby appealed to Saudi Arabia’s government to respect and protect human rights, and to ensure fair and transparent judicial proceedings.

John Kirby also urged the Saudi government to permit peaceful expression of dissent and, along with other leaders in the region, to redouble efforts to reduce regional tensions.

Most of the 47 executed by Saudi Arabia were Sunnis convicted of involvement in al-Qaeda-linked terror attacks last decade.

Saudi Arabia carried out more than 150 executions in 2015, the highest figure recorded by human rights groups for 20 years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9vvjuy27H4

Spratlys Plane Landing: Vietnam Accuses China of Violating Its Sovereignty

Diane A. Wade
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Spratlys Plane Landing: Vietnam Accuses China of Violating Its Sovereignty

China is accused by Vietnam of violating its sovereignty by landing a plane on an artificial island built in a contested part of the South China Sea.

According to the Vietnamese foreign ministry, the airfield was built illegally on a part of the Spratly archipelago that lies within its territory.

China said it has complete sovereignty over Fiery Cross Reef and had used a civilian plane to test the airstrip.

Several nations dispute China’s territorial claims in the area.

China claims almost the whole of the South China Sea, resulting in overlapping claims with several other Asian nations including Vietnam and the Philippines.

They accuse China of illegally reclaiming land in contested areas to create artificial islands with facilities that could potentially be for military use.China Spratlys plane landing

The US has said it was concerned that January 3 flight had exacerbated tensions.

Pooja Jhunjhunwala, a spokeswoman for the US State Department, said there was “a pressing need for claimants to publicly commit to a reciprocal halt to further land reclamation, construction of new facilities, and militarization of disputed features”.

“We encourage all claimants to actively reduce tensions from unilateral actions that undermine regional stability, and taking steps to create space for meaningful diplomatic solutions to emerge,” Pooja Jhunjhunwala said.

Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China conducted the flight to test whether the airfield facilities met the standards for civil aviation.

“China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and their adjacent waters. China will not accept the unfounded accusation from the Vietnamese side,” Hua Chunying said, referring to the Spratly Islands by their Chinese name.

Hanoi’s foreign ministry said Vietnam handed a protest note to China’s embassy and asked China not to repeat the action, Reuters reported.

It called the flight “a serious infringement of the sovereignty of Vietnam on the Spratly archipelago”.

Satellite images published in April 2015 showed China making progress with building the airstrip on reclaimed land on Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands.

The landmass could accommodate a runway about 3,000m long.

It also showed dredging to the south of the reef, in apparent work to improve the reef’s port facilities.

China says its work is legal and needed to safeguard its sovereignty.

MASH: Wayne Rogers Dies of Complications from Pneumonia Aged 82

Sonia Pantiss
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MASH: Wayne Rogers Dies of Complications from Pneumonia Aged 82

Actor Wayne Rogers, who was best known for playing surgeon “Trapper” John McIntyre in the TV series MASH, has died at the age of 82.

Wayne Rogers, who also had a recurring role in the 1990s series Murder, She Wrote, died of complications from pneumonia.

He became a household name after playing Trapper, despite only staying with the show for the first three of 11 seasons of the 1970’s cult series.

Wayne Rogers continued to act, and was latterly hailed for his talent as an investor.

Born in Alabama, Wayne Rogers was a Princeton graduate and Navy veteran before finding fame as an actor.

His early career saw him appear in numerous TV westerns, as well as small roles in the movies such as Cool Hand Luke and The Glory Guys.

It was his on-screen partnership in MASH with fellow surgeon Hawkeye Pierce, played by Alan Alda, which propelled him into the limelight, as one half of one of TV’s most beloved duos.Wayne Rogers dead at 82

MASH was set in a fictional mobile army hospital during the 1950-53 Korean War. It was based on Robert Altman’s 1970 film of the same name, which saw Elliot Gould play Trapper opposite Donald Sutherland’s cynical Hawkeye.

Wayne Rogers had initially intended to audition for the role of Hawkeye, but ultimately opted to play the sunnier Trapper. The mischievous surgeons began the show as equals, but after a couple of seasons Wayne Rogers became unhappy as the scripts began to champion Alan Alda’s character over his own.

He left the show, in 1975, after just three years, following a contractual dispute.

Wayne Rogers said the producers wanted to impose one that included, among other things, “an old-fashioned morals clause”.

In a 2012 radio interview, Wayne Rogers said: “It said that, in the eyes of the studio, if you behaved in an immoral fashion, they have the right to suspend you. Well, nobody defined an <<immoral fashion>>, as it were – so it was at the whim of whoever ran the studio.”

MASH went on to run for a further 8 seasons, until 1983, with Mike Farrell replacing Wayne Rogers as Hawkeye’s new cohort, Captain BJ Hunnicut.

Wayne Rogers later said that he had realized MASH would last so long, he might have “kept my mouth shut and stayed put”.

He continued to act for another 30 years, earning a Golden Globe nomination for his role as another surgeon, Dr. Charley Michaels, in TV comedy House Calls in 1981.

The actor also became known for his financial acumen after considerable success in property investment. He wrote the self-help book Make Your Own Rules and served as a regular panelist on Fox TV’s Cashin’ In.

Wayne Rogers was awarded a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame in 2005.

Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr Execution Sparks Anger and Protests in Shia Communities

Roy Siemens
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Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr Execution Sparks Anger and Protests in Shia Communities

The execution of Saudi Arabia’s prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr has sparked anger and protests in Shia communities across the region.

Shia-led Iran, Sunni-led Saudi Arabia’s main regional rival, has led the official condemnation of the execution.

Protests have taken place in Saudi Arabia’s Shia-majority Eastern Province, in Bahrain and several other countries.

Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr was a vocal supporter of mass protests in the province in 2011.

He was a prominent, outspoken cleric who articulated the feelings of those in Saudi Arabia’s Shia minority who feel marginalized and discriminated against.Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr execution protests

Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr was among 47 people put to death on January 2 after being convicted of terrorism offences.

In the early hours of January 3, unconfirmed reports from Tehran said that the Saudi embassy in the Iranian capital had come under attack from protesters.

Iranian officials have been strident in their condemnation of the execution. The foreign ministry said the Sunni kingdom would pay a high price for its action, and it has summoned the Saudi charge d’affaires in Tehran in protest.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps said a “harsh revenge” would be exacted for the execution, Iranian news agencies report.

Saudi Arabia in turn summoned the Iranian envoy “and handed him a strong-worded protest note on the aggressive Iranian statements”, a foreign ministry statement said.

The website of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei posted a picture suggesting the execution was comparable to the actions of ISIS.

As the Shia power in the region, Iran takes huge interest in the affairs of Shia minorities in the Middle East.

However, one of the principal concerns of the Saudis is what they see as the growing influence of Iran in places like Syria, Iraq and elsewhere.

At least one protest march was held in Qatif, in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, defying a ban on public protests.

Protesters shouted the slogans “The people want the fall of the regime”, and “Down with the al-Saud family”, reminiscent of the 2011 protests in the wake of the Arab Spring.

Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr ‘s arrest in 2012, during which he was shot, triggered days of protests in Eastern Province in which three people were killed.

January 2 executions were carried out simultaneously in 12 locations across Saudi Arabia. Of the 47 executed, one was a Chadian national while another was Egyptian. The rest were Saudis.

The international rights group Amnesty International said the 47 executions demonstrated the Saudi authorities’ “utter disregard for human rights and life” and called Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr’s trial “political and grossly unfair”.

Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr ‘s family said he had been found guilty, among other charges, of seeking “foreign meddling” in the kingdom but his supporters say he advocated only peaceful demonstrations and eschewed all violent opposition to the government.

Saudi authorities deny discriminating against Shia Muslims and blame Iran for stirring up discontent.

Saudi Arabia carried out more than 150 executions in 2015, the highest figure recorded by human rights groups for 20 years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5dj2e4wRfE

Gisela Mota: Mexican Mayor Shot Dead on Her Second Day in Office

Diane A. Wade
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Gisela Mota: Mexican Mayor Shot Dead on Her Second Day in Office

Temixco Mayor Gisela Mota has been shot dead on her second day in office in the Mexican city.

Gisela Mota was killed at her home in Temixco, 50 miles south of the capital Mexico City, hours after taking her oath of office on January 1, police said.Gisela Mota Temixco

Reports said Gisela Mota, a former federal congresswoman, was attacked by four gunmen. Police shot two of the attackers dead and arrested the others.

A motive for the killing is unclear. Several Mexican mayors were killed in 2015 by alleged drug traffickers.

Gisela Mota, who was in her early 30s, had promised to try to clean up Temixco, an industrial city where problems associated with drugs and organized crime are rife.

Tel Aviv Attack: Security to Be Tightened in Israeli Arab Areas

Roy Siemens
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Tel Aviv Attack: Security to Be Tightened in Israeli Arab Areas

Security will be tightened in Israeli Arab areas after a gunman killed two people in a shooting at a popular bar in Tel Aviv, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has said.

Visiting the scene of the attack on January 2, Benjamin Netanyahu demanded “loyalty to the state’s laws from everyone”.

Police have named a 29-year-old Israeli Arab as the suspect. No motive has been established for the shooting.

Seven people were also wounded, four of them seriously, in January 1 attack outside the bar.

Security forces are on “heightened alert” and are searching for the gunman who is still at large, police said on January 2.Benjamin Netanyahu Tel Aviv attack January 2016

Visiting the bar in Dizengoff Street, Benjamin Netanyahu praised Israeli Arab leaders for condemning the killings – but said Israel was in danger of becoming “a state of law for most citizens, and a state within a state with Islamist incitement and illegal arms that are often used in weddings, celebrations and criminal incidents”, the Jerusalem Post reports.

Benjamin Netanyahu said his government would “bolster law enforcement efforts in the Negev, the Galilee, the Triangle, everywhere”. This would include building new police stations and recruiting more police officers.

The attack took place in a busy part of Tel Aviv city center filled with bars and cafes.

Security camera footage showed the gunman taking an automatic rifle out of his backpack and then firing at least 15 shots at people in the street before fleeing the scene.

The two victims have been identified as Alon Bakal, 26, who was a manager at the bar targeted, and Shimon Ruimi, 30.

The suspect, from northern Israel, had stolen the gun from his father, who works in security, Haaretz newspaper reported.

The father recognized his son from media reports and contacted the police, the newspaper said.

Tel Aviv shootings follow a wave of Palestinian attacks against Israelis over the past few months.

Donald Trump Footage Used in Al-Shabab Propaganda Video

Roy Siemens
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Donald Trump Footage Used in Al-Shabab Propaganda Video

A new propaganda video released by the Somali Islamist group al-Shabab features Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump.

The video shows Donald Trump’s recent call for Muslims to be barred from entering the United States.

It also shows al-Shabab – al-Qaeda’s East African affiliate – urging African-Americans to convert to Islam and to take part in holy war.

The video says racism, police brutality and anti-Muslim sentiment are rife in the US.

Donald Trump’s campaign team has not responded to the video.

In recent years, several Somali-Americans from Minnesota have gone to fight for al-Shabab in Somalia.Donald Trump in al Shabab propaganda video

Donald Trump is shown 10 minutes into the 51-minute film making his December call for the US to bar all Muslims, in the wake of deadly San Bernardino shootings on December 2.

He said a “total and complete” shutdown should remain until the US authorities could “figure out” Muslim attitudes to the US. His comments were widely condemned in the US at the time.

Recently, former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said that, with his rhetoric, Donald Trump was becoming ISIS’ “best recruiter”.

Donald Trump’s statement is shown between two clips of militant leader Anwar al-Awlaki, who was killed in a drone strike in Yemen in 2011.

The video was distributed on Twitter on January 1 by the al-Kataib media foundation, an Islamist militant organization, intelligence agency SITE Monitoring reported.

Al-Shabab, which seeks to overthrow Somalia’s Western-backed government and impose a strict version of Sharia, has carried out attacks in Kenya and Ethiopia.

Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr: Top Shia Cleric Executed in Saudi Arabia

Roy Siemens
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Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr: Top Shia Cleric Executed in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia’s prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr has been executed, the interior ministry said.

Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr was among 47 put to death after being convicted of terrorism offences, it said in a statement.

He was a vocal supporter of the mass anti-government protests that erupted in Eastern Province in 2011, where a Shia majority has long complained of marginalization.

Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr’s arrest the following year triggered days of unrest.

His death sentence was confirmed in October 2014.Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr executed in Saudi Arabia

Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr’s family said he was found guilty of seeking “foreign meddling” in the kingdom, “disobeying” its rulers and taking up arms against the security forces.

Shia-led Iran – the main regional rival of Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia – said Riyadh will pay a “high price” for executing Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.

Those also put to death include Sunnis convicted of involvement in al-Qaeda-linked terror attacks in 2003, reports said.

Of the 47 executed, one was a Chadian national while another was Egyptian. The rest are Saudis.

Protests broke out in early 2011 in the oil-rich Eastern Province in the wake of the Arab Spring.

Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr ‘s supporters say he supported only peaceful demonstrations and eschewed all violent opposition to the government.

He had been a persistent critic of Saudi Arabia’s Sunni royal family.

His brother, Mohammed al-Nimr, said he hoped any reaction to the execution would be peaceful.

A lawmaker in Iraq’s governing Shia coalition said the death aimed at “provoking sectarian fighting”, while Lebanon’s Shia council called it a “grave mistake”, Reuters reported.

Saudi authorities deny discriminating against Shia and blame Iran for stirring up discontent.

Saudi Arabia carried out more than 150 executions in 2015, the highest figure recorded by human rights groups for 20 years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyebHR2UZnE

Pathankot Attack: Six Killed in Indian Air Force Base Attack

Roy Siemens
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Pathankot Attack: Six Killed in Indian Air Force Base Attack

Two soldiers and four gunmen have been killed in an overnight attack on Indian air force base Pathankot near Pakistani border, officials say.

Operations at the base are continuing, with some reports saying gunmen are holed up in the base.

The incident came days after the Indian and Pakistani leaders Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif met in Lahore to launch a surprise peace initiative.

The whole of India’s Punjab state has been placed on alert.

The Pathankot base is on the main highway leading to Indian-administered Kashmir.

The gunmen wore Indian military uniforms and drove a hijacked car when they launched the attack at 03:30 local time.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

They entered living quarters at the base, but were contained there and so were unable to cause any damage to military hardware, said air force spokeswoman Rochelle D’Silva.

On January 2, fresh gunfire was heard and a helicopter seen firing at an area inside the base.

It is not yet clear who the attackers were but suspicion is already falling on Kashmiri militant groups based in Pakistan.

Some Indian security officials suggested the Islamist militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed was to blame.

India says the group is backed by Pakistan, but Islamabad denies this.

Pathankot air force base is about 270 miles north of the Indian capital, Delhi and is on the road linking Indian-administered Kashmir with the rest of the country.

Indian-administered Kashmir has seen a long-running insurgency against rule from Delhi, and Kashmir has been a flashpoint in relations between Pakistan and India for nearly 70 years since independence.

Barack Obama to Bypass Congress on Gun Control Laws

Diane A. Wade
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Barack Obama to Bypass Congress on Gun Control Laws

President Barack Obama has announced he will take unilateral action to tackle the gun violence in the United States.

In his first weekly address of 2016, Barack Obama said he would meet Attorney General Loretta Lynch to discuss actions he could take.

Barack Obama said he was using his executive powers as president because the US Congress has failed to address the problem.

Analysts say there will be a backlash from gun activists and Republicans.

However, Barack Obama told Americans that he had received too many letters from parents, and teachers, and children, to sit around and do nothing.

“We know that we can’t stop every act of violence,” he said.Barack Obama gun control laws

“But what if we tried to stop even one? What if Congress did something – anything – to protect our kids from gun violence?”

Barack Obama has admitted that his inability to win Congressional backing for what he called “common sense gun laws” was the greatest frustration of his presidency.

The president could use his executive authority in several areas, including expanding new background check requirements for buyers who purchase weapons from high-volume dealers.

However, he is likely to face stiff opposition to his plans.

The National Rifle Association has already launched a video series attacking gun control activists.

In Texas, a new “open carry law” will allow Texans with a permit to wear handguns on their hips in holsters – openly displaying the fact they are armed.

Last month a Texas police chief warned the president that trying to disarm Americans could spark a revolution.

Previous efforts to introduce stricter gun control laws have repeatedly foundered despite the large number of people dying in gun attacks.

A joint Democrat-Republican bill following the 2012 shooting of 20 children and six adults at a primary school in Connecticut failed to get the 60 votes needed to broaden background checks and ban assault weapons.

Natalie Cole Dead: Nat King Cole’s Daughter Dies Aged 65

Sonia Pantiss
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Natalie Cole Dead: Nat King Cole’s Daughter Dies Aged 65

Natalie Cole, the daughter of Nat “King” Cole, has died at the age of 65.

The singer died on December 31 at a hospital in Los Angeles, her publicist told the Associated Press.

Natalie Cole’s hit songs included the duet Unforgettable with her father.

She rose to fame as an R&B artist with tracks such as This Will Be and Inseparable.

Natalie Cole recently had canceled a series of performances, including one on New Year’s Eve.Natalie Cole dead at 65

According to AP, a statement from Natalie Cole’s son Robert Yancy, and sisters, Timolin and Casey Cole said: “Natalie fought a fierce, courageous battle, dying how she lived… with dignity, strength and honor. Our beloved mother and sister will be greatly missed and remain unforgettable in our hearts forever.”

Natalie Cole had battled drug problems and hepatitis in the past, and underwent a kidney transplant in 2009.

Her greatest success came with her 1991 album, Unforgettable… With Love, which paid tribute to her father with reworked versions of some of his best-known songs, including That Sunday That Summer, Too Young and Mona Lisa.

Unforgettable saw Natalie Cole’s voice remixed with her father’s, 25 years after Nat King Cole’s death.

Tel Aviv Bar Shooting: At Least Two Killed and Seven Injured

Roy Siemens
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Tel Aviv Bar Shooting: At Least Two Killed and Seven Injured

Two people have been killed and seven others injured after a gunman opened fire with an automatic rifle at a Tel Aviv bar, Israeli police say.

Four of the wounded had suffered serious injuries.

Security forces have launched a huge manhunt for the gunman, cordoning off areas of the city.

The incident took place in Dizengoff Street in Tel Aviv’s center.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

It was not immediately clear what motivated the shooting, which follows a wave of Palestinian attacks against Israelis over the past few months.

Undercover units and counter-terrorism units were working in different areas of Tel Aviv.

However, Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai told reporters at the scene that “this appears to be a terrorist attack motivated by nationalism,” the Jerusalem Post reported.

As of December 23, 2015, at least 21 Israelis had been killed in the recent violence, most of them in stabbings and shooting attacks by Palestinians.

At least 131 Palestinians have also been killed. More than half were said by Israel to be attackers. Others have been killed in clashes with Israeli forces.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0jmWzK7y_0

Mein Kampf to Be Available to Buy in Germany

Sonia Pantiss
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Mein Kampf to Be Available to Buy in Germany

Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf will be available to buy in Germany for the first time in 70 years.

Reprinting the Nazi manifesto was banned after WW2 by Bavaria’s regional government, which held the copyright.

The copyright has now expired and Munich’s Institute of Contemporary History is to publish a new edition.

Mein Kampf’s new versions are expected in many countries. Historians say the book helps academics understand what happened in the Nazi era.Mein Kampf in Germany

Its annotated version, with thousands of academic notes, will aim is to show that Mein Kampf (My Struggle) is incoherent and badly written, rather than powerful or seductive.

Many Jewish groups have welcomed this particular publication, saying it is important to have access to a critical edition to help explain the Holocaust.

Mein Kampf was originally printed in 1925 – eight years before Adolf Hitler came to power.

After Nazi Germany was defeated in 1945, the Allied forces handed the copyright to the book to the state of Bavaria.

The local authorities have refused to allow the book to be reprinted to prevent incitement of hatred, although the book was so widely printed during the war that it remained relatively easily available.

Under European copyright law, the rights of an author of a literary or artistic work runs for the life of the author and for 70 years after his death – in Adolf Hitler’s case on April 30 1945, when he shot himself in his bunker in Berlin.

Those rights cease on the first day of January, 70 years after Hitler’s death, and so publishers now have free access to the original text.

However, German officials have said they will limit public access to the text amid fears that this could stir neo-Nazi sentiment.

Rwanda President Paul Kagame Confirms He Will Seek Third Term in 2017

Diane A. Wade
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Rwanda President Paul Kagame Confirms He Will Seek Third Term in 2017

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has confirmed that he will seek re-election for a third term in 2017.

The announcement was expected after a referendum approved constitutional changes to allow him to run for three further terms and could potentially see him to stay in power until 2034.

Paul Kagame said Rwandans had made clear they wanted him to lead the country after 2017, and he could only accept.

He has dominated Rwandan politics since his rebel army ended the 1994 genocide.

Last month’s referendum result means Paul Kagame can run for a third seven-year term in 2017 and then two further five-year terms.Paul Kagame New Year address 2016

In his New Year’s address at midnight, Paul Kagame, 58, said Rwanda did not need a president for life, and that someone else would take over sooner rather than later.

“You requested me to lead the country again after 2017. Given the importance and consideration you attach to this, I can only accept.

“But I don’t think that what we need is an eternal leader,” he said.

Part of the president’s New Year’s message was directed towards his critics abroad.

Paul Kagame was clearly telling them that democracy was at work in Rwanda and that he was only responding to the people’s wishes.

The US and the EU have said Paul Kagame should step down in 2017 to allow a new generation of leaders to emerge.

They also denounced the results of the referendum, saying voters were not given enough time to make informed decisions.

Paul Kagame has received widespread praise for bringing economic development to Rwanda, but critics have also accused him of a heavy-handed rule.

Rights groups accuse the government of stifling the media and political opposition.

Paul Kagame became acting president in 2000 and was then elected in 2003 and 2010. However, he has effectively held power since 1994, when his rebel force entered the capital, Kigali, to end the country’s genocide.

Dubai Hotel Fire: Authorities Investigate Address Downtown Fire on New Year

Diane A. Wade
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Dubai Hotel Fire: Authorities Investigate Address Downtown Fire on New Year

Dubai authorities are trying to find out what caused a spectacular fire to engulf a 63-storey luxury hotel in the city center on New Year’s Eve.

Firefighters managed to subdue the fire, but part of the Address Downtown Hotel is still smoldering.

A significant fire is still visible on the 20th floor, where the blaze apparently started.

The tower was evacuated and 16 people were hurt. But a fireworks show went ahead at the Burj Khalifa tower nearby.

The Burj Khalifa is the world’s tallest building and an iconic symbol of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

Streets around the Address Downtown Hotel have been cordoned off, but boulevards around the Burj Khalifa are open.

The fire broke out at about 21:30 local time on December 31 and appeared to engulf much of the Address Downtown, a five-star hotel and apartment complex, within 10 minutes.

Four teams of firefighters battled the blaze for hours, officials said.

The Dubai government tweeted that 14 people had suffered minor injuries, one moderate injuries and there was one “heart attack case” due to “overcrowding and smoke”.

The fireworks display went ahead as smoke continued to billow from the hotel.

Alternative accommodation would be offered to evacuated guests, the Dubai government said.

New Year 2016: Celebrations Begin Around the World

Diane A. Wade
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New Year 2016: Celebrations Begin Around the World

New Year celebrations have begun across the world, with revelers in Australia and New Zealand among the first to welcome 2016.

Crowds counted down the last seconds of 2015 at Auckland’s Sky Tower in New Zealand with a laser show and fireworks display.

Up to 25,000 people had been expected to turn up for the festivities.

In Australia, fireworks lit up Sydney harbor at midnight. A million were expected to turn up.

New Zealand welcomed in 2016 an hour after Samoa and Kiribati, the first countries to ring in the New Year.

As the New Year sweeps across Asia, major cities like Hong Kong, Singapore and Beijing will kick off their own celebrations.

In Egypt, festivities will be staged in front of the pyramids near Cairo, as the government works to revive its tourist industry.

Meanwhile, in Dubai, an extravagant display will illuminate the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, with 400,000 LED lights and 1.6 tons of fireworks set to be used.Happy New Year 2016

In Europe, approximately one million people will countdown at the Brandenburg Gate in Germany’s capital, Berlin.

Despite security fears across the continent, many major public events are going ahead, though with heightened security restrictions.

In Madrid, only 25,000 people will be allowed into the Puerta del Sol Square. More than 100,000 people are expected to watch the Mayor of London’s fireworks show, a ticketed event.

Over in Sierra Leone, the declared end of Ebola will mark a return to festivities, after Freetown, the capital, was left deserted a year ago due to the disease’s outbreak.

As 2016 finally reaches the Americas, up to a million people are expected to converge on Times Square in New York, amid tight security, to watch the famous ball descend.

On Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach, crowds will not only mark the New Year – they will also fete the 100th anniversary of Samba music, and the upcoming summer Olympics.

New Year Terror Plot: Six People Arrested in Brussels

Roy Siemens
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New Year Terror Plot: Six People Arrested in Brussels

Six people have been arrested in Brussels in connection with an alleged plot to target the Belgian capital on New Year’s Eve, prosecutors say.

The arrests come as cities around the world heighten security measures ahead of large-scale New Year celebrations.

The arrests in Brussels were made during raids in suburbs including Molenbeek, which was used as a base by the November 13 Paris attackers.

Brussels’ main fireworks display has been cancelled over the feared plot.

Photo AP
Photo AP

None of the six people arrested on December 31 have been identified. Two people arrested in Brussels earlier this week, named as 30-year-old Said S and 27-year-old Mohammed K, have been charged with threatening to carry out a terrorist attack.

According to Brussels police, the apparent plots to target New Year celebrations are not related to the network behind the Paris attacks.

Security is being stepped up in major European cities ahead of New Year celebrations, with officials wary of possible terror plots.

New Year fireworks and festivities have been cancelled in Brussels and extra measures are being put in place in other cities, including Paris, London, Berlin and Moscow.

Meanwhile in Turkey, security services say they have thwarted a major plot to attack celebrations in Ankara.

Israel Summer Programs – Why Spending Your Summer in Israel is a Great Idea

Lisa.Felice
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Israel Summer Programs – Why Spending Your Summer in Israel is a Great Idea

You work very hard during the school year, focusing on your school work and balancing it against the extracurricular activities, such as sports, music and other hobbies, as well as social life. All of these things make up who you are! Guidance counselors and college acceptance manuals state that well-rounded individuals, who show that they excel not only in the academic work but also in other domains of their lives, have a better chance of getting into a college of their choice. Summer academic programs further signal to prospective schools and employers of your dedication to learning new things.  On the other hand, after a long academic year, who doesn’t deserve a break? Students need to hit a refresh button and get ready to start a new school year or their first job out of high school or college with replenished energy reserves, excitement and a relaxed body and mind. So how is it possible to use summertime to further your education and career goals while having meaningful experiences, meeting new friends and giving your brain and your body a chance to rest? The answer is to spend your summer in an amazing, diverse and dynamic place while learning about its history and politics and gaining academic credit. In other words, choose one of Israel summer programs for high school students.

Israel is amazing at any time of the year. But summer is really special here. During the summer the country comes alive with special events and festivals that create truly authentic and immersive experiences for study-abroad program participants.

Most Israel summer programs, programs last for about 6 weeks and allow participants to learn Israel’s rich history where it really happened. Israel itself becomes the classroom with lectures held on the beach, in the mountains, or on a hiking trail. Outdoors class time is supplemented with fun activities, be it swimming in the Mediterranean, Red and Dead seas, kayaking, attending concerts of local and visiting bands, volunteering, visiting outstanding Israeli startups, tasting Israeli foods, exploring outdoor food markets and just hanging out in Israeli cities like Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, or Haifa.

Both students of the Jewish descent and those with a different cultural heritage will create a special bond with Israel, learn about the incredible diversity in this land, as well as a unique geopolitical situation, and how everyday life in Israel is very much different from that portrayed in the media. Students have the chance to meet and engage with Jews, Arabs, Ethiopians, Bedouins, Druze and other ethnic groups that make Israel into a fascinating melting pot. Israel, which is the size of New Jersey, has a wealth of landscapes — the desert, mountains, wetlands, endless beaches and the Dead Sea, the lowest inland point on Earth, all of which will impress even the most seasoned traveler.

Learning about Israel’s past, analyzing the current political climate and building predictions for the future in the region create an excellent learning opportunity, as well as provide on-the-ground explanations for those interested in Middle Eastern politics and culture. Israel summer abroad programs create an immersive experience that creates life opportunities, from assistance in the college admissions process to gaining independence and learning subjects that may influence academic and career decisions.

King Dalindyebo of South Africa Begins 12-Year Jail Sentence

Diane A. Wade
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King Dalindyebo of South Africa Begins 12-Year Jail Sentence

South Africa’s King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo has begun a 12-year prison sentence for kidnapping, assault and arson.

King Dalindyebo, who is a nephew of the late Nelson Mandela, reported to prison after his legal attempts to overturn his conviction failed.

The case against King Dalindyebo was related to a dispute he had with some of his subjects about 20 years ago.

He comes from the Thembu clan, to which Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first black president, belonged.

King Dalindyebo, 51, is the first monarch to be jailed in South Africa since minority rule ended in 1994.

He ascended to the throne in 1989, and has about 700,000 subjects.King Dalindyebo jailed

South Africa has 10 officially recognized monarchs representing different ethnic groups and clans.

They play a largely ceremonial role, and attend to minor disputes within their communities.

King Dalindyebo was accused of kidnapping a woman and her six children, setting their home on fire and beating up four youths, one of whom died, because one of their relatives had failed to present himself before the king’s traditional court.

He handed himself to prison authorities in the eastern city of Mthatha in compliance with a court order after a judge refused to extend his bail on December 30, the justice ministry said in a statement.

Earlier, Justice Minister Michael Masutha turned down his request for a retrial, saying there was no legal justification for doing so.

King Dalindyebo had maintained his innocence, saying he disciplined his subjects under customary law.

Sentencing him in October, the Supreme Court of Appeal said: “His behavior was all the more deplorable because the victims of his reign of terror were the vulnerable rural poor, who were dependent upon him. Our constitution does not countenance such behavior.

“We are a constitutional democracy in which everyone is accountable and where the most vulnerable are entitled to protection.”

Many people feel King Dalindyebo has disgraced the royal family, and that he will be hard-pressed to find any sympathy, correspondents say.

There is already talk of his son, Prince Azenethi Dalindyebo, being crowned as the next monarch.

King Dalindyebo defected from the governing African National Congress (ANC) to the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party during his legal battles.

The DA revoked King Dalindyebo’s membership following the ruling of the Supreme Court of Appeal.

Air Canada Flight 88 Makes Emergency Landing after Turbulence Injures 21 Passengers

Nancy Clayson
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Air Canada Flight 88 Makes Emergency Landing after Turbulence Injures 21 Passengers

An Air Canada plane with 332 passengers and 19 crew on board was forced to make an emergency landing after severe turbulence injured 21 passengers, including three children, officials said.

Air Canada flight AC88 from Shanghai to Toronto was diverted to Calgary after the turbulence hit.

Photo CBC
Photo CBC

Eight passengers suffered neck and back injuries and 13 more were taken to hospital for observation.

The injured were in a stable condition, an emergency services spokesman said.

Some passengers were taken off the plane strapped to stretchers. Emergency Medical Services spokesman Stuart Brideaux said the injuries were limited to non-life-threatening neck and back injuries.

Air Canada COO Klaus Goersch said the passengers had been through a “very unsettling experience”.

He praised the crew’s response and said some of the injured had been quickly discharged.

The Boeing 777 landed at Calgary without further incident, the airline said in a statement.

Katrina Pierson: Donald Trump’s Spokesperson Criticized for Wearing Bullet Necklace

Nancy Clayson
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Katrina Pierson: Donald Trump’s Spokesperson Criticized for Wearing Bullet Necklace

Donald Trump’s presidential campaign spokesperson Katrina Pierson responded to criticism of her appearance during a CNN interview on December 28.

Katrina Pierson, who made a name for herself defending Donald Trump against various attacks, boasted a necklace composed of bullets and their shell casings on CNN. The segment didn’t have anything to do with guns, gun violence or gun control, but the necklace was quite noticeable.Katrina Pierson bullet necklace

Hours after the interview first aired, Shannon Watts – the founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America – tweeted sarcastically that “surely” Katrina Pierson had worn the bullet necklace “to bring attention to 90 Americans fatally shot daily”.

Shortly after that, Katrina Pierson responded to Shannon Watts’ implicit criticism with a promised trolling of her own: “Maybe I’ll wear a fetus next time& bring awareness to 50 million aborted people that will never ger to be on Twitter.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTQshZLfZRs

Midwest Flooding: 12 Million People in Danger

Diane A. Wade
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Midwest Flooding: 12 Million People in Danger

Rivers in Midwest brought flood warnings for over 12 million people on December 30 as scores of buildings were submerged after days of intense rain in which 24 people have died.

Two rivers west of St. Louis crested at historic levels, flooding local towns, disabling sewer plants and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of residents.

Major rivers including the Mississippi are expected to reach record highs as flood waters rush toward the Gulf of Mexico, the National Weather Service said.

The flooding has closed many roads and parts of I-44, a major artery running from west Texas to St. Louis. It poses a threat to livestock and crops in farm areas stretching from Illinois to Louisiana.

Water rose to the rooftops of homes and businesses in Missouri, where Governor Jay Nixon called the flooding “historic and dangerous”.Midwest flooding 2015

Jay Nixon spoke with President Barack Obama on December 30 and received a pledge of federal support.

About 300 people in Valley Park, Missouri, west of St. Louis, were evacuated in case a levee is breached on the Meramec River, said Chief Rick Wilken of the Valley Park Fire District.

At least 24 people have died, mostly from driving into flooded areas, in Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas and Oklahoma after days of downpours with as much as 12 inches of rain.

In Eureka, Missouri, along the Meramec River, Mayor Kevin Coffey said a man was rescued from atop the cab of his pick-up truck after spending the night in a parking lot to watch over his gun shop business.

Historic floods on the Mississippi in 1993, 1995 and 2011 occurred during warm weather, after snow melts in the north.

While the rains have stopped for now, freezing weather is setting in.

Agriculture experts said water standing more than a week could kill the soft red winter wheat crop. Export premiums for corn and soybeans were at their highest levels in weeks because of stalled barge traffic on swollen rivers.

Specialty Apparel Retailers Lose $500 Million Due to Warm Temperatures

Clyde K. Valle
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Specialty Apparel Retailers Lose $500 Million Due to Warm Temperatures

Specialty apparel retailers lost more than $500 million in sales this holiday season due to warm temperatures, analysts say.

While the promise of colder weather in the New Year should finally provide a boost to cold-weather apparel, analysts said any spike in demand would be too little too late.

Further adding to retailers’ woes are predictions that spring will get off to an unusually cool start across much of the United States, which could cause an even bigger blow to apparel sales than the warm December.

Photo Zara
Photo Zara

According to Planalytics, a consulting firm that analyzes the effect of weather on consumer demand, specialty apparel stores lost $421 million in sales due to weather between November 1 and December 19. That number ballooned to more than $500 million through December 26 – and it doesn’t even account for the losses at department stores.

These retailers are also expected to report anemic sales during the fourth quarter, with Macy’s CEO Terry Lundgren warning in last month that consumers would have a “field day” this holiday shopping season, as the company would be forced to slash prices to get rid of its excess inventory.

Planalytics’ data show that demand for outerwear declined 10% nationally in December, compared to 2014, while demand for boots and hats, gloves and scarves each fell 4%.

Caitlyn Jenner Settles Lawsuit with Prius Driver Jessica Steindorff

Lisa.Felice
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Caitlyn Jenner Settles Lawsuit with Prius Driver Jessica Steindorff

Caitlyn Jenner has succeeded to settle her lawsuit with Jessica Steindorff, the driver of the Prius involved in the reality star’s fatal crash on the Pacific Coast Highway in February.

The reality star, then known as Bruce Jenner, slammed into a Lexus while driving down the busy Los Angeles parkway. The car’s driver, Kim Howe, was then sent into oncoming traffic, where she was struck and killed by a Hummer. After hitting Kim Howe’s car, Bruce Jenner then crashed into Jessica Steindorff’s Prius.

Jessica Steindorff, whose car was nearly totaled in the accident, sued Caitlyn Jenner in June. In her legal papers, the plaintiff maintained that in addition to the property damage, she was also seeking compensation for personal injuries suffered. The amount of the settlement has not been undisclosed.

Photo Instagram
Photo Instagram

However, Caitlyn Jenner’s insurance company reportedly paid for all of the damages.

The reality star still has two additional lawsuits in progress.

Caitlyn Jenner faces a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Kim Howe’s stepchildren, but Jenner has been fighting to get that claim dismissed, arguing that the plaintiffs had no relationship with their late stepmom and did not depend on her financially. Additionally, the five occupants of the Hummer involved in the collision filed a civil suit against Caitlyn Jenner earlier this month, alleging she was responsible for the accident due to driving recklessly and at an unsafe speed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCnYayeUH3w

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